Hydrological recorder

ABSTRACT

Data processing and recording apparatus for use in receiving and recording hydrological information. There is provided a sensor means and a punching system to perforate paper tape at predeterminable time intervals in accordance with stimuli received from the sensor means. The sensor means has a pressure sensitive device located where hydrological information is sought. A detector translates pressure changes in the pressure sensitive device into electrical impulses to operate the punching system. The pressure sensitive device has an open ended tube through which a gas is forced from a supply vessel. The gas pressure is increased until gas bubbles pass from the open end of the tube at a predeterminable rate and a well-type mercury manometer is connected to the pressure sensitive device in an air-tight manner.

United States Patent Anderson [541 HYDROLOCICAL RECORDER [72] Inventor:James Mitchell Anderson, Salisbury Rhodesia 221 Filed: Ju i s, 1970 21Appl.No.:43,714

[52] US. Cl. ..346/33 TP, 73/304 R, 73/391,

. 73/401 [51] Int. Cl. ..G0ll 1 9/08 [58] Field of Search .346/33 R, 33TP, 72; 73/170 A,

[4 1 Dec. 19, 1972 Primary Examiner-Joseph W. l-lartary Attorney-HerbertL. Boettcher, S. Delvalle Goldsmith, Aaron M. Scharf, Lester l-lorwitz,Iain Baillie and Robert Black [57] ABSTRACT Data processing andrecording apparatus for use in receiving and recording hydrologicalinformation. There is provided a sensor means and a punching system toperforate paper tape at predeterminable time intervals in accordancewith stimuli received from the sensor means. The sensor means has apressure sensitive-device located where hydrological information issought. A detector translates pressure changes in the pressure sensitivedevice into electrical impulses to operate the punching system. Thepressure sensitive device has an open ended tube through which a gas isforced from a supply vessel. The gas [56] References Cmd pressure isincreased until gas bubbles pass from the UNITED STATES PATENTS open endof the tube at a predeterminable rate and a well-type mercury manometeris connected to the 1,881,572 Herz pressure sensitive device in an airtight manner 2,657,577 11/1953 Falk l ..73/3l2 X 3,427,632 2/1969 Vahset al ..73/3I2 X 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEBIQ m2 7 3.707000SHEET 2 BF 4 .Tnmn mun/n1. :QA/bE/Bfdd, I Inventor By I Q M tlorneysPATENTEDUEC 19 1972 SHEET 4 BF 4 JAMES m/TaHHL HNbF/ZSM Inventor y! 0 IMM \ZM Alforneys HYDROLOGICAL RECORDER This invention relates to dataprocessing and recording apparatus and particularly although notexclusively, is concerned with providing improved means for recordingchanges in pressure such as are caused by changes in water levels.

An instrument adapted for this purpose comprises an electrically woundclockwork mechanism which actuates a punching device at predeterminabletime intervals. The punching device comprises a pair of discs adapted tobe rotated in accordance with stimuli received and, by means of suitableformations on a face of the disc, to line up one or more tines orpunches with a paper tape to be perforated.- At the selectedpredetermined time interval, a platen brings the selected punches intocontact with the tape thus perforating it for record purposes. Theplaten then returns to neutral position until the next time interval haselapsed when the punching cycle again takes place.

A vital part of the operation is the rotation of the discs to therequired positions under the influence of applied stimuli so as toselect the correct punch required to make a record on the tape. It iswith this function that the invention is concerned and it is an objectof the invention to provide relatively simple and foolproof apparatuswhich will achieve a reasonable degree of accuracy over long periodswith the minimum of maintenance. Further objects of the invention willemerge from the description which follows.

' According to the invention data processing and recording apparatusadapted for use in receiving and recording hydrological informationincludes a punching system adapted to perforate paper tape atpredeterminable time intervals in accordance with stimuli received fromat least one sensor means associated with the apparatus; the sensormeans including a pressure sensitive device disposable in an environmentwhere hydrological information is sought and a detector adapted totranslate pressure changes in the pressure sensitive device intoelectrical impulses adapted to create mechanical movement of thepunching system.

Further according to the invention data processing and recordingapparatus is provided wherein the pressure sensitive device comprises anopen ended tube through which a gas is forced from a supply vessel, thegas pressure being increased until gas bubbles pass from the open end ofthe tube at a predeterminable rate; the device being further linked inair-tight manner to a well-type mercury manometer.

Still further according to the invention data processing and recordingapparatus is provided wherein the detector includes a probe having twoelectrodes of differing length so as to afford three possible statesrelative to the surface of the mercury in the manometer; a-first statewherein both electrodes are free from the surface of the mercury; asecond state wherein the longer electrode touches the surface of themercury and a third state where both electrodes are in contact with themercury; in each case to alter the balance of the electrical circuitassociated with the apparatus whereby through mechanical means to raiseor lower the probe to match the rise or fall of the surface of themercury under variations of pressure in the pressure sensitive deviceand thereby to align a punch or punches in the punching system.

In order to illustrate the nature of the invention and how it maybest beput into effect an example will be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the pressure sensitive device and associatedmanometer with its probe;

FIG. 2 illustrates a part schematic end elevation of a recorder;

FIG. 3 illustrates a part sectioned schematic side elevation of arecorder;

FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram;

FIG. 5 apart sectioned view of a probe and FIG. 6 a part sectioned viewof a manometer.

. Referringto FIG. 1, numeral 5 indicates a pressure sensitive vesselcoupled by means of a small bore copper tube6 to a well-type mercurymanometer 7. Glass tubing 8 houses a probe 9 having two needle pointednickel coated steel electrodes 10 and 11 adapted to make contact withthe surface 12 of the mercury in manometer 7.

Probe 9 comprises a metal casing 13 (FIG. 5) divided into an upperportion 14 and a lower portion 15 coupled by threaded section 16 andhaving an insulatedcore 17 through which passes electrode 11. Electrode10 is mechanically and electrically coupled to lower portion 15 ofcasing 13.

An electrical resistor 18 having a value of 56 kilo ohm is housed inupper section 14 of casing 13 and is electrically coupled to electrode11 and to electric current conducting cable 19 which is adapted to coilaround cable drum 20, the coils lying in side-by-side relationship onthe cable drum 20, as shown in FIG. 3.

Electrodes l0 and 11 are spaced apart any suitable distance to ensureeffective electrical insulation from each other but the length ofelectrode 10 relative to electrode 11 may be adjusted by rotation of thelower portion 15 of casing 13 upon'screwthreaded section 16 so as tocreate a vertically disposed gap 21 between the tip of the electrodes 10and 1 1.

Drum 20 is mechanically coupled by gear 22 and gear 23 which is carriedfixedly on shaft 24 which, in turn, is fixed to tape punching drum 25 ofa recorder 26. 1

Reversible direct current electrical motor 27 (FIGS. 2 and 3) drivesworm gear 28 which mates with spur gear 29 fixedly carried on shaft 30,resting in bearings 31 and 32, supported in housing 33. Shaft 30 furthercarries friction wheel 34 which is in rubbing contact with and adaptedto drive tape punching drum 25, thereby rotating shaft 24 and, throughgear train 22/23, cable drum 20 so raising or lowering probe 9 suspendedat the end of cable 19.

Referring to FIG. 4, numeral 10 indicates the electrode fixed to lowerportion 15 of casing 13 of probe 9, and 11 is the electrode coupled toresistor 18 in the upper portion 14 of casing 13. Numeral 19 denotes theelectric current conducting cable which joins probe 9 to the circuitryof recorder 26. The circuitry includes 4 transistors designated Tr l, Tr2, Tr 3 and Tr 4; Tr 1 being a 10 m.a. silicon transistor, Tr 2 a m.a.silicon transistor, Tr 3 a 10 m.a. germamium transistor and Tr 4 a 120m.a. germamium transistor. R2 is a 56 kilo ohm resistor connected at oneside to the mercury and to the base electrodes of transistors Trl andTr3 and at the other side to the collector electrodes of transistors Tr3and Tr4, whilst R3 is a 74 ohm resistor connected between the emitterelectrodes of transistors Tr4 and, Tr2. R3 may be eliminated from thecircuit where the gap 21 exceeds about 8 thousandths of an inch. Theletter M denotes the direct current reversible electric motor 27 shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the motor being connected between the emitterelectrode of transistor Tr2 and a volt point on a conductor connectingthe cathodeof one 4.5 volt battery (hereinafter called the plus 4.5 voltbattery) with the anode of another 4.5 volt battery (hereinafter calledthe minus 4.5 volt battery). The motor has a starting current of 8( ma.and a running currentrequirement of 25 m.a. at 4.5 volt. SW1 denotes amicro switch adapted to be operated by a-cam 35 (FIG. 3) when theapparatus is due to make a recording.

In operation recorder 26 is housed ina suitable shelter on a river bankand is anchored to a position wherein probe 9 suspended on cable 19passes down glass tube 8 to make contact with the surface 12 of mercuryin manometer 7. Manometer 7 is joined by means of a length of small borecopper tube 6 to a pressure sensitive device which is securely anchoredto a datum point in the river bed.

The clockwork mechanism of the recorder is then set in motion andmaintained in the wound condition by a suitable battery. By means of acam 36 attached to an electric clock, switch 37 starts the recordingprocess resulting in the tapes being punched in the code representingwater level. During this process cam 35 rotates to bring SW1 to the onposition thereby switching the circuitry (FIG. 4) on. During the offperiods the probe 9 will keep itself clear of any rise in punch the tapeso in manometer 7 relative to a datum hne based on the touches thesurface 12 of the mercury in manometer 7. At this point the detectorreaches the second state where resistor 18 and R2, being a matched pairof 56 kilo ohms resistors, will bring the voltage on the Tr 1 and Tr 3bases to zero and therefore the circuit will rest. It is after thispoint in time that the recorder will recording the height 'of themercury will again come tovthe 'state of rest. R3 is introduced thesurface 12 of the mercury because a positive voltage will appear on thebase of Tr 1 from the plus 4.5 volt battery via resistor 18 or itsbypass electrode 10 and thiswill wind the probe 9 clear of the mercurysurface 12. i

Once clear of the surface 12, the circuit will draw no currents since Tr1 and Tr 2 are silicon transistors. It may be mentioned that Tr I and Tr3 may be omitted from the circuitry when very little oxidation is to beexpected on the surface 12 of the mercury. If Tr 1 and Tr 3 are omittedthe resistor 18 and R2 may each have a value of 2.2 kilo ohms.

When recorder 26 comes to the on position a suitable time lapse intervalis initiated during which the cir-- cuit comes to the rest positionbefore punching takes place. Simultaneously SW1 will close under theinfluence of cam and probe 9 will then move from a first state where themercury will be below both probe points to a second state where probe 11touches surface 12 of the mercury in manometer 7. In the first state, anegative voltage appears on the bases of Tr 1 and Tr 3 from the minus4.5 volt battery via R2. This voltage keeps Tr I switched off but allowsTr 3 to conduct thereby switching Tr 4 on. The reversible direct currentmotor'M will run in a direction suitable to rotate drum 20 so as tolower probe 9 until electrode 11 into the circuit to act as a damper toslow down the movement of the probe 9 in its downward direction andthereby to minimize overriding of the rest position when the gap 21 isset to very fine limits.

I claim:

1. Data processing and recording apparatus, for use in receiving andrecording hydrological information, comprising:

a. a sensor means comprising a pressure sensitive device to be locatedwhere hydrological information is sought, said device including an openended tube through which a gas is forced from a supply vessel, the gaspressurebeing increased until gas bubbles pass from the open end of thetube at a predeterminable rate, and a well-type mercury manometerconnected to said device in an air-tight manner;

b. a punching system. to perforate paper tape at predeterminable timeintervals in accordance with stimuli received from said sensor means;and

c. a detector to translate pressure changes in said pressure sensitivedevice into electrical impulses to operate said punching system, saiddetector comprising a probe having two electrodes of differing length toprovide three possible states relative to the surface of the mercury insaid manometer, said three possible states being a first state whereinboth electrodes are free from the surface of the mercury, a second statewherein the longer electrode touches the surface of the mercury and athird state wherein both electrodes are in contact with the mercury,said three states each altering the balance of an electrical circuithaving its input connected across the mercury and electrodes and itsoutput connected across electromechanical means which raise or lowersaid probe to match the rise or'fall of the surface of the mercury undervariations of pressure in said pressure sensitive device to align apunch in said punching system.

1. Data processing and recording apparatus, for use in receiving andrecording hydrological information, comprising: a. a sensor meanscomprising a pressure sensitive device to be located where hydrologicalinformation is sought, said device including an open ended tube throughwhich a gas is forced from a supply vessel, the gas pressure beingincreased until gas bubbles pass from the open end of the tube at apredeterminable rate, and a well-type mercury manometer connected tosaid device in an air-tight manner; b. a punching system to perforatepaper tape at predeterminable time intervals in accordance with stimulireceived from said sensor means; and c. a detector to translate pressurechanges in said pressure sensitive device into electrical impulses tooperate said punching system, said detector comprising a probe havingtwo electrodes of differing length to provide three possible statesrelative to the surface of the mercury in said manometer, said threepossible states being a first state wherein both electrodes are freefrom the surface of the mercury, a second state wherein the longerelectrode touches the surface of the mercury and a third state whereinboth electrodes are in contact with the mercury, said three states eachaltering the balance of an electrical circuit having its input connectedacross the mercury and electrodes and its output connected acrosselectromechanical means which raise or lower said probe to match therise or fall of the surface of the mercury under variations of pressurein said pressure sensitive device to align a punch in said punchingsystem.